Dustin Rinker

Can you explain a bit further the $550 reward? I understand the coming to the labs for 3 days this fall, in conjunction with watching the videos. But is this with an additional $550 on top of your kickstarter pledge? Thanks -

Ok great! I will talk things over with my wife and get back to you. The timing is tight but we may be able to swing it. Thanks again!

Destiny,

Thanks for getting back to me that's great! I do have an 8 month old and wife that I wouldn't like to abandon for two weeks - and they aren't excited to camp for that long. Is there still space in a wafati for us? Or other living situation? Thanks again!!

Hi! I am very excited about this PDC and really want to attend. My problem is that I have a prior commitment in Idaho starting on June 10, towards the end of the PDC. What would I miss/ would it be possible to still get the certification if I missed the last two days? Thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. Thanks!

Wow - great thoughts and comments everyone. I am very encouraged! Thank you.
Some helpful info is that the land is in central Washington. It is all dryland - so no irrigation. The average rainfall is around 10-11 inches annually.
There are multiple parcels that are spread over a 15 mile radius or so. I grew up on the ranch so I have some experience; but I would say that I have a lot to learn before I could run it myself.
I was thinking about working and replanting field by field as was suggested, incorporating a swale system.
What are your thoughts on a no till, polyculture crop system, with paddock style mob grazing? Could plant between lines of swale-planted tree lines.

Hi all - as the subject suggests, I at some point will inherit a lot of land. Currently the land is being used as a conventional monocropped/pesticide/anhydrous ammonia fertilizer using dryland wheat farm (for about 50 years at least). Some is CRP ground. There are a couple big questions right off the bat; lets get into them.

1. Is it feasible to convert this ground into a permaculture farm because of the condition of the soil, or better to sell?

My quick thoughts on 1: It may be extremely hard to rid the ground of chemical residues and then massage a healthy soil system into existence (decade, longer?). This being said, we need to start converting this kind ground at some point or the entire current agriculture system will be a desert. The exciting part: if wildly successful and more profitable than conventional monocropped/subsidized farming, it could spark permaculture revolution with this kind of land! (I can be optimistic). Second thought is that we need to start experimenting and learning how to successfully heal these kinds of farms if we are to save our agriculture and social systems. It might also be a great place to do PDC's and learn and record processes and systems.

2. Is it feasible because of adjacency to other farm ground that is spraying chemicals? I know with water seepage, wind, etc., this would be an issue until I convert all my neighbors or buy all their land. Thoughts?

Those are two big questions so lets start there. I know it would be easier to just sell. Continuing to own the land and lease it to its current farmer (it is being currently leased) would provide significant annual income source, but my conscience says that idea sucks. I am very new to permaculture. Your experience, ideas, and input are appreciated.

I would be willing to pay for a PDC - especially if it were local. Traveling for a PDC is tempting but I would rather understand my own climate/soil/plants than learn about a subtropical region or something. A hands on PDC would also be the best option for me.

I didn't know about OSU's permaculture design course! That sounds like a great option, thanks Andie. I heard that Geoff Lawton's online PDC was pretty difficult to get into because of its popularity - but doesn't mean I can't try! Thanks Miles.

Hi everyone - This is my first post. I've been learning a lot through resources here (thank you!) and elsewhere but am wanting to get more hands on. I was wondering if anyone knew of any PDC's in Montana or in the Northwest USA in early 2015 - possibly January or in the spring?